Stormy session as Saddam lawyers protest judge replacement

Saddam Hussein's lawyers walked out of his trial hearing Wednesday to protest against the removing of the chief judge and the deposed president was or

Saddam Hussein's lawyers walked out of his trial hearing Wednesday to protest against the removing of the chief judge and the deposed president was ordered to leave the courtroom.

Mohammed Oreibi al-Khalifa, a Shiite, was presiding Wednesday in place of Abdullah al-Amiri, who was replaced after he was accused of being too soft on the former Iraqi leader.

But when the session began with al-Khalifa in charge, the defense lawyers questioned the impartiality of the trial. "We don't expect from this court established under the occupation authorities to be fair, so we decided to withdraw from this trial," defense lawyer Wadoud Fawzi told the court, reading a statement on behalf of the defense team.

"The decision to sack the judge at the orders of the government shows that this trial lacks the standards of a fair trial," added Fawzi.

Al-Khalifa responded, saying replacing the chief judge was an "administrative issue." When the lawyers protested, the judge said the court would appoint new counsel.

According to the AP, Saddam said he wanted his lawyers to stay and protested against court-appointed counsel. "This is our personal right," Saddam shouted about the defense choosing its counsel as he pointed his finger at the judge and pounded his fist on the podium. "You must deal with us as the law dictates," he added.

Al-Khalifa asked him to shut up, but Saddam refused, prompting the judge to order him out of the courtroom.

A fiery exchange ensued. Saddam told the judge: "Your father was in the security and he went on working as a sergeant in the security (forces) until the fall of Baghdad." "I challenge you in front of the public if this is the case," al-Khalifa shouted in response to Saddam's claim.

Saddam's cousin "Chemical" Ali al-Majid told al-Khalifa that he also rejected court-appointed lawyers. "I'll stay (in the courtroom), but I'll decline to say anything or defend myself and I'll gladly accept any verdict, even if it's the death penalty."

The judge then resumed the session, calling in an elderly Kurdish witness to take the stand.